Configuration of a transaction in a contactless electronic device

ABSTRACT

A method of configuring a contactless communication device is provided. The contactless communication device includes integrated circuits hosting at least two applications compatible with different communication protocols or the same communication protocol and using different communication parameters and a contactless communication circuit. The method includes stopping, by the contactless communication circuit, the transmission of answers of the contactless communication device to requests transmitted by a proximity coupling reader during a transaction initiated by the reader to cause the initiation by the reader of a new transaction.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure generally concerns electronic devices and, morespecifically, contactless communication electronic devices. The presentdisclosure more specifically aims at the selection of a communicationmode between a contactless communication terminal and a contactlesscommunication device.

Description of the Related Art

The development of applications usable in contactless communications,between a proximity coupling device (PCD), for example, a contactlessterminal (Contactless Reader), and a contactless electronic device, forexample, a cell phone equipped with the near-field communicationtechnology (NFC) generates new difficulties.

In particular, communications comply with evolving standards, which mayraise problems of compatibility between different generations ofdevices.

Further, contactless electronic devices are more and more often capableof hosting a plurality of applications having different security levels.For example, a cell phone may host a bank application, for example,according to the EMV (Eurocard-Mastercard-Visa) standard, and otherso-called proprietary applications, for example, access control,transport, and the like applications.

Such different applications may require or otherwise rely on differentprotocols. Usual systems are based on a detection, by the reader, of thecapacity of the contactless electronic device to communicate accordingto one standard or another. However, this generates false rejections,that is, a contactless electronic device which would be capable ofcommunicating with a reader is refused by said reader.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It would be desirable to have a solution for verifying the compatibilityof a contactless electronic device for a communication with a proximitycoupling device.

An embodiment provides a method of configuring a contactlesscommunication device comprising integrated circuits hosting at least twoapplications compatible with different communication protocols or thesame communication protocol and using different communication parametersand a contactless communication circuit, wherein the contactlesscommunication circuit stops the transmission of answers of thecontactless communication device to requests transmitted by a proximitycoupling reader during a transaction initiated by the reader to causethe initiation by the reader of a new transaction.

According to an embodiment, the contactless communication circuitcomprises a memory in which is stored, for each application, aconfiguration for a contactless communication comprising at least oneidentifier of the communication protocol with which the application iscompatible. The contactless communication circuit transmits to thereader data of one of the configurations during a transaction initiatedby the reader, and the contactless communication circuit changes theconfiguration used at the new transaction initiated by the reader.

According to an embodiment, the configuration which is used by thecontactless communication circuit at the new transaction initiated bythe reader depends on the current date.

According to an embodiment, the configuration which is used by thecontactless communication circuit at the new transaction initiated bythe reader depends on the time.

According to an embodiment, the configuration which is used by thecontactless communication circuit at the new transaction initiated bythe reader depends on the frequency of use of each configuration.

According to an embodiment, the configuration which is used by thecontactless communication circuit at the new transaction initiated bythe reader depends on the position of the contactless communicationdevice.

According to an embodiment, the configurations are ordered according toa determined sequence and the configuration which is used by thecontactless communication circuit at the new transaction initiated bythe reader corresponds to the configuration which, according to saidsequence, follows the last configuration used by the contactlesscommunication circuit.

According to an embodiment, the contactless communication circuit isconfigured to detect an interruption of a transaction initiated by thereader.

According to an embodiment, one of the applications is compatible withthe ISO 14443-4 protocol and another one of the applications iscompatible with the ISO 14443-3 protocol.

According to an embodiment, one of the applications is a EMVapplication.

According to an embodiment, one of the applications is a MIFARE Classicor MIFARE Classic+ application.

An embodiment also provides a contactless communication electronicdevice comprising integrated circuits hosting at least two applicationscompatible with different communication protocols or compatible with thesame communication protocol and using different communication parametersand a contactless communication circuit comprising a microprocessorprogrammed for the implementation of the method such as describedhereabove.

According to an embodiment, the contactless communication electronicdevice corresponds to a cell phone.

According to embodiments of another described aspect:

-   -   a method of configuring a contactless communication device        comprises integrated circuits hosting at least two applications        compatible with different communication protocols or compatible        with the same communication protocol and using different        communication parameters and a contactless communication        circuit, the contactless communication circuit being configured        to detect an interruption of a transaction initiated by a        proximity coupling reader;    -   the contactless communication circuit comprises a memory in        which are stored, for each application, a configuration for a        contactless communication comprising at least one identifier of        the communication protocol with which the application is        compatible and the contactless communication circuit transmits        to the reader data of one of the configurations during a        transaction initiated by the reader;    -   the number of answers to be transmitted by the contactless        communication circuit to requests from the reader in an initial        phase of the transaction is stored in the contactless        communication circuit, the contactless communication circuit        detecting an interruption of the transaction initiated by the        reader when the number of answers is smaller than the stored        number;    -   the contactless communication circuit detects an interruption of        the transaction initiated by the reader when the last control        signal sent by the reader causes the delivery by the contactless        communication circuit to the reader of an answer indicating an        error;    -   the transaction comprises the implementation of an anticollision        process by the reader and the contactless communication circuit        determines that the transaction has been interrupted if it has        not received a control signal expected from the reader during        the anticollision process;    -   the contactless communication circuit determines that the        transaction has been interrupted if it detects that the reader        no longer emits an electromagnetic field;    -   the contactless communication circuit detects an interruption of        the transaction initiated by the reader by detecting that the        reader repeatedly transmits the same request of detection of the        presence of the contactless communication device;    -   the contactless communication circuit detects an interruption of        the transaction initiated by the reader by detecting the absence        of transmission of a control signal by the reader for a        determined time period;    -   when an interruption of the transaction is detected, the        contactless communication circuit changes the configuration used        at the next transaction initiated by the reader;    -   one of the applications is compatible with the ISO 14443-4        protocol and another one of the applications is compatible with        the ISO 14443-3 protocol;    -   one of the applications is a EMV application;    -   one of the applications is a MIFARE Classic or MIFARE Classic+        application;    -   a contactless communication electronic device comprising        integrated circuits hosting at least two applications compatible        with different communication protocols or compatible with the        same communication protocol and using different communication        parameters and a contactless communication circuit comprising a        microprocessor programmed for the implementation of the method        such as previously defined; or    -   the contactless communication electronic device corresponds to a        cell phone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features and advantages, as well as others, will bedescribed in detail in the following description of specific embodimentsgiven by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 very schematically shows an embodiment of a near-fieldcommunication system;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example of configuration of aproximity coupling device;

FIG. 3 illustrates the establishing of a near-field communicationaccording to a MIFARE Plus protocol; and

FIG. 4 is a simplified diagram of an embodiment of a method ofconfiguring a proximity coupling device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Like features have been designated by like references in the variousfigures. In particular, the structural and/or functional features thatare common among the various embodiments may have the same referencesand may dispose identical structural, dimensional and materialproperties. For the sake of clarity, only the operations and elementsthat are useful for an understanding of the embodiments described hereinhave been illustrated and described in detail. In particular, theexchanges between the proximity coupling device and a contactlesselectronic device once the communication has been established have notbeen detailed, the described embodiments being compatible with usualexchanges.

Unless specified otherwise, the expressions “around”, “approximately”,“substantially” and “in the order of” signify within 10%, and preferablywithin 5%.

The embodiments are described by taking as an example a contactlesselectronic device, for example, a cell phone or a connected watch, and acontactless reader forming a proximity coupling device (PCD). Further,although reference is made to payment applications, the describedembodiments transpose to applications of different natures, providedthat they generate the same issues and that they are compatible with thedescribed solutions.

FIG. 1 very schematically shows an example of a contactlesscommunication system of the type to which the described embodimentsapply.

A contactless communication terminal 1 or contactless reader (READER)generates an electromagnetic field. A contactless electronic device 2(DEVICE) located within the range of the reader detects the field and isthen capable of exchanging information with reader 1.

Contactless electronic device 2 comprises an antenna 3 (ANTENNA)configured to exchange electromagnetic signals with reader 1.Contactless electronic device 2 further comprises an integrated circuit4 (NFC Controller), called NFC controller hereafter, configured tocontrol antenna 3 for the transmission of electromagnetic signals toreader 1 and to convert the signals delivered by antenna 3 into digitalsignals usable by NFC controller 4 or by other integrated circuits ofdevice 2. NFC controller 4 is in particular configured to exchange datawith reader 1, on the initiative of reader 1, for the establishing of acommunication with reader 1.

Contactless electronic device 2 further comprises integrated applicationcircuits 5, 6 (HOST 1, HOST 2), each configured to exchange signals withNFC controller 4. Each application circuit 5, 6 is capable of exchangingdata with reader 1 via the NFC controller 4 and antenna 3 according to acontactless communication protocol when a communication has beenestablished between NFC controller 4 and reader 1. Application circuits5, 6 may possibly be configured to directly exchange data with eachother. As an example, one of application circuits 5, 6 may correspond toa universal integrated circuit card (UICC). As an example, one ofapplication circuits 5, 6 may correspond to an embedded or integratedsecure element (ESE or ISE). As an example, when contactless electronicdevice 2 is a cell phone, one of application circuits 5, 6 maycorrespond to the application processor of the phone. As an example,when contactless electronic device 2 is a cell phone, one of applicationcircuits 5, 6 may correspond to the application processor of the phone.The common point between each application circuit 5, 6 is that they areconnected to NFC controller 4 and that they are capable of hosting anapplication capable of executing a transaction initiated by reader 1.

Contactless communication protocols used by integrated circuits 5 and 6may be “proprietary”, that is, set by the manufacturer, or standardized.Contactless device 2 may be multi-applications, that is, it hostsapplications which use different contactless communication protocols. Asan example, integrated circuit 5 may implement a bank application whichuses a so-called EMV technology, which uses protocols based on ISOstandard 14443-4, and integrated circuit 6 may implement one or aplurality of applications which use a technology known underdenomination MIFARE. The MIFARE technology uses, in certainimplementations, an (application) communication protocol which does notsupport the ISO 14443-4 protocol or requires specific parameters whichshould be used during the anticollision. The application which should beinitiated by contactless device 2 depends on the reader 1 with which itcommunicates. Indeed, reader 1 is generally dedicated to an application(for example, bank, transport, access control, etc.) and the activationof contactless device 2 in the field of reader 1 depends on the protocolaccepted by the contactless device 2.

The steps enabling to establish a contactless communication betweencontactless device 2 and reader 1, also called steps of activation ofcontactless device 2, are generally only carried out by NFC controller4, particularly to limit the duration of the activation. For thispurpose, NFC controller 4 comprises a memory having the differentconfigurations capable of being used by NFC controller 4 stored therein.A configuration comprises all the information necessary to NFCcontroller 4 to establish a contactless communication with reader 1according to a determined protocol. As an example, when contactlessdevice 2 comprises an integrated circuit hosting a EMV application andan integrated circuit hosting a MIFARE application, at least twodifferent configurations are stored in the NFC controller. More than oneconfiguration may be associated with an integrated circuit when theintegrated circuit hosts at least two applications using differentcommunication protocols. As an example, an integrated circuit may hostan application using the MIFARE Classic protocol and an applicationusing the MIFAR DESFire protocol. According to another example,application circuits 5, 6 may host applications compatible with the samecommunication protocol. However, at least certain parameters of theconfigurations associated with the two applications may then bedifferent, for example, key values used during the communication.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating steps of a sequence of activationof a contactless electronic device in the field of a PCD reader.

The PCD reader emits, periodically or when it detects (block 21, START)the presence of a load in the field that it generates, a request (REQA)intended for the contactless devices DEVICE possibly present in thefield. If a contactless device present in the field interprets requestREQA, it sends an acknowledgement message ATQA. On reception of such amessage, the reader starts a so-called anticollision procedure (block23, ANTICOLLISION) to make sure that it communicates with a singlecontactless device. Such a procedure includes the sending, by thecontactless device, of a UID identifier of the device and of a SAK(Select AcKnowledge) code identifying the application hosted by thecontactless device and with which it answers. The SAK code or SAK valuedetermines the communication protocol accepted by the contactlessdevice. The reader verifies whether identifier UID is complete (block25, UID?). If it is not (output N of block 25), the anticollisionprocedure carries on until a complete identifier is received. If it is(output Y of block 25), the reader reads the SAK code to determine theprotocol of communication with the contactless device. Typically, inapplications targeted by the present disclosure, the PCD readerdetermines (block 27, SAK?) whether the device is compatible (output Yof block 27) with the 14443-4 or (output N of block 27) 14443-3protocol. The previously-described configuration data particularlycomprise the SAK value for each configuration.

Each previously-described configuration may comprise a value SAK.According to an embodiment, the SAK values may be delivered to the NFCcontroller by the application circuits for the determination of theconfigurations by the NFC controller. According to an embodiment, for anapplication circuit 5, 6 hosting an EMV application, the SAQ value maybe 0x20. According to an embodiment, for an application circuit 5, 6hosting a MIFARE application, the SAQ value may be 0x08. According to anembodiment, for an application circuit 5, 6 hosting both an EMVapplication and a MIFARE Classic application, the NFC controller maydetermine three possible configurations with different SAQ values, oneconfiguration indicating the hosting of two EMV and MIFARE Classicapplications (SAQ value 0x28), one configuration indicating the hostingof the EMV application (SAQ value 0x20), and one configurationindicating the hosting of the MIFARE Classic application (SAQ value0x08). The determination of the configurations by the NFC controller maytake into account the parameters delivered by the assembly ofapplication circuits 5, 6.

The upcoming of multi-application contactless devices and particularlycontaining both an integrated circuit hosting a EMV-type bankapplication and an integrated circuit hosting a MIFARE Plus typeapplication generates issues.

The MIFARE technology has different security levels SL0 to SL3 accordingto the generation of the integrated circuit. More particularly, a MIFAREClassic (SL1 mode) or MIFARE Classic+ (SL2 mode) application iscompatible with the ISO 14443-3 protocol. A MIFARE Plus (SL3)application is compatible with the ISO 14443-4 protocol. Further,advanced MIFARE Plus applications are retro-compatible. Thus, a MIFAREPlus application may also operate under lower security levels, to becompatible with existing readers. Similarly, a reader hosting MIFAREPlus applications is generally capable of operating according to lowerprotocols (MIFARE Classic or Classic+).

To benefit from the advantages of the most recent protocols andparticularly of the MIFARE Plus protocol, a reader hosting a MIFARE Plusapplication first attempts to establish a communication according tothis protocol. Thus, in the presence of a contactless device in itsfield, it attempts to establish a communication according to the ISO14443-4 protocol. If the contactless device answers, this means that itis compatible with the MIFARE Plus technology and the communicationstarts. If the contactless device does not answer, the reader switchesto a lower-level MIFARE Classic protocol and communicates according tothe 14443-3 standard.

However, in the presence of a contactless device hosting an EMVapplication and a MIFARE Classic application, the communication cannotbe established, while the contactless device is compatible with thereader. Indeed, when the communication is to be established, the NFCcontroller answers that it accepts the 14443-4 protocol since thecontactless device hosts an EMV application. The reader then starts thecommunication in MIFARE Plus mode. However, the contactless device doesnot answer since its MIFARE application is not compatible with theMIFARE Plus technology. One then is in a situation where the contactlessdevice which could have communicated with the reader in MIFARE Classic(or Classic+) mode is prevented from communicating since it hosts an EMVapplication.

In fact, the contactless device does not recognize the nature of thetransaction (for example, EMV or MIFARE Plus) before it receivesspecific control signals linked to the application. Now, a MIFARE Plusreader starts by adapting the transaction to the highest-performanceprotocol (MIFARE Plus) before sending specific control signals to theapplication. This results, for contactless devices hosting an EMVapplication and a MIFARE application, but which are not compatible withMIFARE Plus, in a failure of the transaction even though the reader andthe contactless device are compatible with the MIFARE Classictechnology.

FIG. 3 very schematically illustrates the rejection of a transaction bya MIFARE Plus reader in such a situation.

The reader (PCD) turns on (Field ON) the field (activates the fieldgeneration) and periodically sends (Polling) a request (REQA, FIG. 2).The NFC controller of the contactless device (DEVICE) answers and ananticollision process starts. Since the contactless device hosts an EMVapplication, the NFC controller answers (Answer anti-collision) with aSAK value compatible with ISO standard 14443-4. For a contactless devicehosting an EMV and MIFARE Classic application, the delivered SAK valueis for example 0x28. On reception of the answer, the reader sends astandardized request of the ISO 14443-4 standard called RATS (Requestfor Answer to Select) enabling to switch to the MIFARE Plus mode if theNFC controller answers or to remain in MIFARE Classic mode in theopposite case. Since the contactless device hosts an EMV application,the NFC controller answers (Answer RATS) this request of the 14443-4standard. The reader then starts a MIFARE Plus transaction with securitylevel SL3 (Send SL3 Cmd). However, the NFC controller of the contactlessdevice remains mute (Not working) or returns an error (for example, bymentioning an unknown control signal) since the MIFARE application ofthe contactless device is not compatible with this security level. Thereader then turns off the field (Field OFF) or keeps on periodicallysending the request sent at the first step of the transaction.

While the previously described techniques are based on a detection bythe reader, the inventors provide modifying the operation on the NFCcontroller side to solve the above-discussed situation and to enable acontactless device hosting a level-SL1 or -SL2 MIFARE card tocommunicate with a MIFARE Plus reader despite the fact that it alsohosts an EMV application.

FIG. 4 very schematically illustrates an embodiment of a proximitytransaction configuration method. The method comprises a step 30(Interruption?) of detection by the NFC controller of an interruption ofthe transaction with the reader and a step 40 (Configuration) ofmodification of the configuration used by the NFC controller at the nextestablishing of a communication. Step 40 forces the NFC controller(during the reconfiguration) not to or to no longer answer the reader(PCD). Given the lack of communication, the reader will restart itsdetection loop (as previously described). When the NFC controller isreconfigured, it may answer again requests from the reader, which causesa new establishing of the communication, but, from the viewpoint of thereader, a new card/target is presented.

At step 30, the NFC controller of the contactless device determineswhether a transaction has been interrupted before the end of theestablishing of a communication with the reader. For such adetermination, the NFC controller determines whether a first conditionis fulfilled and, possibly, whether a second condition is fulfilled.

According to an embodiment, the NFC controller comprises a memory intowhich is stored, for each configuration, the expected number of messagesexchanged between the NFC controller and the reader after theanticollision process according to the communication protocol associatedwith this configuration so that the establishing of the communication issuccessful. The exchanged messages comprise the requests emitted by thereader and the responses sent by the NFC controller after theanticollision process or the establishing of the communication. Eachmessage may correspond to a data unit of the application protocol orAPDU (Application Protocol Data Unit). As an example, for acommunication protocol compatible with the ISO 14443-3 standard (MIFAREClassic), the number of expected exchanged messages is equal to 3 andfor a communication protocol compatible with the ISO 14443-4 standard(EMV), the expected number of exchanged messages is equal to 4.

According to a first condition, the NFC controller determines that thetransaction has been interrupted if the number of answers transmitted bythe NFC controller to the reader is smaller than the number of expectedresponses stored in the memory. In particular, in the case where thetransaction is interrupted just after the anticollision process, thenumber of responses sent by the NFC controller to the reader may bezero.

According to another first condition, the NFC controller determines thatthe transaction has been interrupted if the last control signal sent bythe reader on establishing of the communication causes the delivery bythe NFC controller to the reader of an answer indicating an error. As anexample, for an APDU under format ISO7816-4, a correct response isindicated by 0x9XXX, X being a hexadecimal value, and an error is oftenindicated by 0x6XXX, X being a hexadecimal value.

According to another first condition, the NFC controller determines thatthe transaction has been interrupted if it has not received a controlsignal expected from the reader during the anticollision process. As anexample, the NFC controller determines that the transaction has beeninterrupted if it does not receive request RATS from the reader.

According to a second condition, the NFC controller determines that thetransaction has been interrupted if it detects that the reader hasstopped the emission of an electromagnetic field.

According to another second condition, the NFC controller determinesthat the transaction has been interrupted if it detects that the readerreturns to the detection mode. The detection mode may correspond to theperiodic transmission by the reader of the same request emitted at thebeginning of the establishing of the communication or of the wake-upcontrol signal (WUP). The control signal is sent “in a loop” until thecontactless device no longer answers thereto.

According to another second condition, the NFC controller determinesthat the transaction has been interrupted if it detects that the readerreturns to the polling mode. The polling mode may correspond to theperiodic emission by the reader of the same request emitted at thebeginning of the establishing of the communication.

According to another second condition, the NFC controller determinesthat the transaction has been interrupted if it has not received acontrol signal transmitted by the reader for a predetermined timeperiod, for example, for 200 ms.

At step 40, the NFC controller selects the new configuration which willbe used at the next establishing of a communication by the reader andwhich is different from the configuration which has been used at thelast establishing of a communication by the reader.

At step 40, the NFC controller further turns off the antenna of thecontactless device, which means that it no longer answers to requestsfrom the reader. Thereby, the reader no longer detects the presence ofthe contactless device in the electromagnetic field and returns to thepolling mode. The NFC controller may select the next configuration whilethe antenna of the contactless device is off.

According to an embodiment, the configurations are ordered according toa sequence determined in the memory of the NFC controller and the newconfiguration which is selected by the NFC controller corresponds to theconfiguration which, according to said sequence, follows the lastconfiguration used by the NFC controller.

The selection of the new configuration by the NFC controller mayimplement at least one of the following selection criteria:

the current date;

the time;

the frequency of use of each configuration, for example, daily orweekly; and/or

the position of the contactless device, when the contactless device hasgeolocation data, for example, delivered by a geolocation unit containedin the contactless device, particularly a GPS (Global PositioningSystem) geolocation unit.

The current date and/or time criterion may be used by the NFC controllerto select as a new configuration the configuration corresponding to atransport application, for example, when the current date corresponds toa day from Monday to Friday, or when the time is within time rangescorresponding to usual transport hours between home and the workplace.

For the frequency criterion, the NFC controller is configured, for eachconfiguration, to store the frequency at which this configuration hasbeen used in a successful transaction. The NFC controller may select asa new configuration the configuration which is most compatible with thestored usage frequencies.

According to an embodiment, the position criterion of the contactlessdevice may be used by the NFC controller to select as a newconfiguration the configuration corresponding to a payment applicationwhen the position of the contactless device coincides with the storedposition of a reader for a payment application. According to anotherexample, the position criterion of the contactless device may be used bythe NFC controller to select as a new configuration the configurationcorresponding to a transport application when the position of thecontactless device coincides with the stored position of a locationwhere readers for a transport application are present, for example, theunderground, a railway station, etc.

If the NFC controller has had to change the configuration since it haddetected that the transaction had failed with the previousconfiguration, it will send the received messages/control signals to theapplication circuit 5, 6 which hosts the application for which theconfiguration has been activated. If the configuration allows the use ofan application on a plurality of application circuits, the NFCcontroller will be based on existing routing modes.

The above-described embodiment is implemented on the contactless deviceside and is transparent for the reader (it requires no modification onthe reader side). The contactless devices thus formed (programmed) arethus compatible with existing readers.

Various embodiments have been described. Various alterations,modifications, and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art.In particular, although the embodiments have been more specificallydescribed in relation with examples of application to EMV and MIFAREbank transactions, they transpose to other applications and memorieswhere similar problems are posed. Further, the practical implementationof the described embodiments is within the abilities of those skilled inthe art based on the functional indications given hereabove and by usingor by programming circuits usual per se.

Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to bepart of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit andthe scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoingdescription is by way of example only and is not intended to belimiting.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. These and other changes can be made to theembodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, inthe following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limitthe claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specificationand the claims, but should be construed to include all possibleembodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by thedisclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of configuring a contactlesscommunication device comprising integrated circuits hosting at least twoapplications compatible with different communication protocols or thesame communication protocol and using different communication parametersand a contactless communication circuit, the method comprising:stopping, by the contactless communication circuit, a transmission ofanswers of the contactless communication device to requests transmittedby a proximity coupling reader during a transaction initiated by thereader to cause the initiation by the reader of a new transaction,wherein the contactless communication circuit comprises a memory inwhich is stored, for each application, a configuration for a contactlesscommunication including at least one identifier of the communicationprotocol with which the application is compatible, the method furthercomprising: transmitting, by the contactless communication circuit, tothe proximity coupling reader data of one of the configurations during atransaction initiated by the reader; and changing, by the contactlesscommunication circuit, the configuration used at the new transactioninitiated by the reader, wherein the configuration which is used by thecontactless communication circuit at the new transaction initiated bythe reader depends on at least one of a frequency of use of eachconfiguration or a position of the contactless communication device. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration which is usedby the contactless communication circuit at the new transactioninitiated by the reader depends on the current date.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the configuration which is used by thecontactless communication circuit at the new transaction initiated bythe reader depends on the time.
 4. The method according to claim 1,wherein the configuration which is used by the contactless communicationcircuit at the new transaction initiated by the reader depends on thefrequency of use of each configuration.
 5. The method according to claim1, wherein the configuration which is used by the contactlesscommunication circuit at the new transaction initiated by the readerdepends on the position of the contactless communication device.
 6. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the configurations are orderedaccording to a determined sequence and wherein the configuration whichis used by the contactless communication circuit at the new transactioninitiated by the reader corresponds to a configuration which, accordingto the sequence, follows a last configuration used by the contactlesscommunication circuit.
 7. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: detecting, by the contactless communication circuit, aninterruption of the transaction initiated by the reader.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein one of the applications is compatible withthe ISO 14443-4 protocol and another one of the applications iscompatible with the ISO 14443-3 protocol.
 9. The method according toclaim 1, wherein one of the applications is a Eurocard-Mastercard-Visa(EMV) application.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein one ofthe applications is a MIFARE Classic or MIFARE Classic+ application. 11.A contactless communication electronic device, comprising: a pluralityof integrated circuits hosting at least two applications compatible withdifferent communication protocols or compatible with the samecommunication protocol and using different communication parameters; amemory in which is stored, for each application, a configuration for acontactless communication including at least one identifier of thecommunication protocol with which the application is compatible; and acontactless communication circuit including a microprocessor configuredto: stop a transmission of answers of the contactless communicationdevice to requests transmitted by a reader during a transactioninitiated by the reader to cause the initiation by the reader of a newtransaction, transmit to the reader data of one of the configurationsduring a transaction initiated by the reader; and change theconfiguration used at the new transaction initiated by the reader,wherein the configurations are ordered according to a determinedsequence and wherein the configuration which is used by the contactlesscommunication circuit at the new transaction initiated by the readercorresponds to a configuration which, according to the sequence, followsa last configuration used by the contactless communication circuit. 12.The contactless communication electronic device according to claim 11,wherein the contactless communication electronic device is a cell phone.13. The contactless communication electronic device according to claim12, wherein one of the application circuits is an application processorof the cell phone.
 14. The contactless communication electronic deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the microprocessor is further configuredto detect an interruption of the transaction initiated by the reader.15. The contactless communication electronic device according to claim11, wherein one of the applications is compatible with the ISO 14443-4protocol and another one of the applications is compatible with the ISO14443-3 protocol.
 16. The contactless communication electronic deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the configuration which is used by thecontactless communication circuit at the new transaction initiated bythe reader depends on a frequency of use of each configuration.
 17. Thecontactless communication electronic device according to claim 11,wherein the configuration which is used by the contactless communicationcircuit at the new transaction initiated by the reader depends on aposition of the contactless communication device.
 18. A contactlesscommunication electronic device, comprising: a first integrated circuithosting a Eurocard-Mastercard-Visa (EMV) application compatible with afirst communication protocol; a second integrated circuit hosting aMIFARE Classic or MIFARE Classic+ application compatible with a secondcommunication protocol that is different from the first communicationprotocol, the second integrated circuit having different communicationparameters than the first integrated circuit; a memory in which isstored, for each application, a configuration for a contactlesscommunication including at least one identifier of the communicationprotocol with which the application is compatible; and a contactlesscommunication circuit configured to: stop a transmission of answers ofthe contactless communication device to requests transmitted by a readerduring a transaction initiated by the reader to cause the initiation bythe reader of a new transaction, transmit to the reader data of one ofthe configurations during a transaction initiated by the reader; andchange the configuration used at the new transaction initiated by thereader, wherein the configuration which is used by the contactlesscommunication circuit at the new transaction initiated by the readerdepends on at least one of a frequency of use of each configuration or aposition of the contactless communication device.
 19. The contactlesscommunication electronic device according to claim 18, wherein thecontactless communication circuit is further configured to detect aninterruption of the transaction initiated by the reader.
 20. Thecontactless communication electronic device according to claim 18,wherein the configurations are ordered according to a determinedsequence and wherein the configuration which is used by the contactlesscommunication circuit at the new transaction initiated by the readercorresponds to a configuration which, according to the sequence, followsa last configuration used by the contactless communication circuit.